I'll be skipper again, says Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen added another twist to English cricket's chaotic week on Saturday when he insisted he'd be back as captain despite his controversial resignation.

The South African-born batsman quit after just three Tests in charge claiming he couldn't work alongside coach Peter Moores who was sacked as the embarrassing furore dragged on.

But Pietersen believes he will be back in charge of the national team at some stage in the future and also insisted that his relationship with Andrew Flintoff had not broken down.

Indeed, he claimed that the star all-rounder had wanted him to remain at the helm of a team who will aim to reclaim the Ashes in six months' time.

"I feel I've got unfinished business as captain of England - I definitely feel that," the 28-year-old told the News of the World.

"But right now, I feel it is right for me to go back and just play - to do something that I love, which is scoring runs for England."

Pietersen, who is adamant he will give his full support to new captain Andrew Strauss, said he is on good terms with Flintoff, himself a former England captain.

"My relationship with Freddie was great and towards the end I sat down with him and I said 'Mate, this is what is going on'," he added. "We had a good chat and Freddie's parting words were, 'You cannot leave as England captain'."

Pietersen said he has no regrets over his decision to quit.

"I risked it all because I thought it was my duty to say things were not right. I risked it all because it was my duty as England captain to say this was how we should move forward," he said.

"What hurts me was the character assassination that has been totally unfounded. And that is the reason why I want to get my story across so that people can understand that I have done absolutely nothing wrong."